KKR Squad IPL 2025

The defending champions might have kept many of their pieces in place heading into IPL 2025, but it’s surprising to see a relative lack of continuity for the Kolkata Knight Riders, particularly at the top of their management. Most significant is losing their captain Shreyas Iyer, who took them to their third IPL title, but also Gautam Gambhir, who captained them to their first two and mentored them to their third. Gambhir now has the biggest coaching job in world cricket, and Iyer one of the most lucrative contracts in the history of the IPL. So it’s all different at the top — but nevertheless, a very solid core remains.

Key to KKR will be their bowling unit, with their spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy being retained and ensuring they are the best in the league in that department. Alongside these two mystery spinners wreaking havoc through the game, KKR also kept hold of Harshit Rana, sneaking him in at the uncapped price point right before he made his international debut for India. They also managed to keep hold of Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, and Ramandeep Singh, a middle order core that is as dangerous as it can get, providing bowling depth and really extending the batting lineup, even before the impact player rule comes into play.

What KKR were therefore pursuing was a top order stalwart to replace the outgoing of Phil Salt and Shreyas Iyer, a world-class pacer to replace Mitchell Starc and lead the attack, and for a captain figure who could step in to lead. Venkatesh Iyer was the big-money buy, KKR betting big on their all-rounder and going over-the-odds to keep his services for 23.75 crore. Sunil Narine could have another wicketkeeping all-rounder as Quinton de Kock was brought in, with bags of experience. Angkrish Raghuvanshi was also brought back and might find use as an impact sub, but the key middle-order purchase was Ajinkya Rahane, whose arrival also gave KKR an option for a leader, and who seems to have found himself again in the T20 format as he ages like a fine wine.

In the pace department, KKR went in for big South African Anrich Nortje, who will have to be back at his best after a couple of quiet years in Delhi, and a spotty injury track record. However, when he is in his flow, he is certainly one of the scarier bowlers in world cricket, and will have plenty of high-pace support from Umran Malik and Harshit as well.

On paper, KKR’s team seems to have the same strengths as they did in their championship run, but with players of a slightly lower calibre compared to the star names who have had to depart. Can they find the same recipes given all the changes? It’s a big ask.

KKR Squad IPL 2025: Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Quinton de Kock, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Spencer Johnson, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, Vaibhav Arora, Rovman Powell, Ajinkya Rahane, Umran Malik, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Mayank Markande.

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